National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Monday, February 3rd, 2014 was the day after Super Bowl XLVIII. Phil was home from work with food poisoning from a Super Bowl party. I'd stayed up the night before to watch the newest Sherlock episode. It was late morning, when my dad called to tell me that my 17-year-old cousin had died by suicide. In shock, I decided to walk to the store to buy some soup for Phil. I was standing in front of the Campbell's cans, trying not to cry, when whatever music service the grocery store uses started playing Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now."

"I can see clearly now the rain is gone...it's going to be a bright, bright, sunshiny day."

It's been two years. My cousin would have turned 20 this summer. When I think of how my life changed between age 17 and 20, I can't help imagining all the big and little things my cousin missed, and all the things he's going to miss. It's a bit of a break in character for us to hit on such a serious topic in our blog, but I wanted to reach out today to any of you who might be struggling to see clearly. I want you to know that there are people who care about you. I want you to know that you have reasons to get help, and you have resources to get help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is one of many places where you can get help right now. They're free, confidential, and available 24/7 over the phone, or through online chat.

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

If you're having a hard time, please tell someone.

Sending a lot of love to my family today, and many, many good thoughts to the rest of you, as well.